Does conflict influence the agriculture sector? Evidence from Myanmar’s Civil War

¹ Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² International Development Studies, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
³ Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: ali.maksum@fisipol.umy.ac.id

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the complex impacts of the 2021 coup in Myanmar, notably the subsequent civil war, on food security. Through qualitative analysis, we delve into the extensive disruptions wrought upon Myanmar’s social and economic landscape, with a specific emphasis on its agricultural sector. Using secondary data, we found a paradox where despite the bloody conflict, the country’s agricultural exports, particularly rice and beans, have increased. This study addresses a significant gap in current literature by elucidating the often-overlooked relationship between civil conflict and agricultural sustainability in the Myanmar context.